Hydraulic dental syringe



Jan. 28, 1969 L. R. SMITH HYDRAULIC DENTAL SYRINGE Sheet of 2 Filed 001:. '7, 1966 R. w w M N a R a 2 8 3 L Y 0/ w B vwmwvwv Jan. 28, 1969 R. SMITH HYDRAULIC DENTAL SYRINGE Sheet Filed Oct. '7, 1966 Lea R. Smith INVENTOR.

PELLET United States Patent Olhce 3,424,156 Patented Jan. 28, 1969 3,424,156 HYDRAULIC DENTAL SYRINGE Leo R. Smith, 1203 S. 28th St., Fort Pierce, Fla.

Filed Oct. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 585,118 US. Cl. 128229 4 Claims Int. Cl. A61m 3/00; F16] 55/14; BOSb 1/02 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hydraulic dental syringe having a tubular body portion which also comprises the handle of the device, which body portion is separable to permit the introduction of a tablet of water-soluble dentifrice, or the like, therein. The body portion is adapated for connection to a source of water under pressure and is provided with a valve means responsive to lateral movement of a high velocity jet stream nozzle carried by the body portion for selectively controlling the jet stream discharge from the syringe.

The present invention relates to a hand held hydraulic syringe and more particularly to a hydraulic syringe adapted to be utilized for the removal of food particles and the like from the teeth. More specifically, the present invention relates to the provision of a hydraulic dental syringe with a novel spray jet flow controller.

It has long been known and recently emphasized that the utilization of a toothbrush in a dental care program oftentimes leads to the compaction of food particles at points about the teeth, and particularly in a sulcus which may exist at the junction of the teeth and gums. Numerous jet spray syringes have been proposed heretofore for hydraulically dislodging and thus cleansing areas normally inaccessible to a conventional toothbrush.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a novel hydraulic dental syringe which may be readily manipulated to hydraulically discharge foreign material adhering to the teeth and gums.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel hydraulic dental syringe which is adapted to be connected to a source of water under pressure, such as is available from a lavatory sink faucet, which syringe includes a novel and manipulable jet spray flow controller of relatively simple construction whereby the jet spray discharge of the syringe may be selectively controlled.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel hydraulic dental syringe incorporating a simple resilient pinch valve means for controlling the jet spray discharge from the syringe.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel hydraulic dental syringe having a tubular body portion which also comprises the handle of the device and is segmented at a point intermediate of its ends so as to permit the introduction of a treating substance water soluble dentifrice, mouthwash, etc. tablet or the like within the tubular body whereby the treating agents will be progressively dissolved under the influence of the liquid flowing therethrough.

Still a further object of the present invention -is to provide a hydraulic dental syringe of an improved simplified construction which may be economically manufactured.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of hydraulic dental syringe constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and further showing the syringe provided with a faucet connectible water supply conduit;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged longitudinal cross-sectional View of the dental syringe of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded elevational view of the dental syringe;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the dental syringe;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dental syringe showing the jet spray flow control means in an open position;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the dental syringe similar to FIGURE 5 but showing the jet spray flow control means wherein the discharge of fluid from the syringe has been stopped; and

FIGURE 7 illustrates a typical manner of utilizing the hydraulic dental syringe of the present invention to cleanse the teeth and gums.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly FIG- URE 1 it will be seen that the exemplary embodiment of the hydraulic dental syringe indicated generally at 10 includes a generally elongated tubular body portion 12 sized so as to be readily nested Within the hand of a person using the syringe 10. The body portion 12 is preferably segmented such as indicated at 14 so as to permit access to the interior of the body portion 12 for the introduction of suitable treating agents such as dentifrices, mouthwashes or the like. Toward this end, and as best seen in FIGURE 3, the inlet end portion 16 of the body portion 12 is provided with a threaded coupling means indicated generally at 18 comprising complementary male and female threaded portions thereof which are adapted to be threadably joined in sealed relationship by means of a suitable O-ring seal 20 as seen best in FIGURE 2. As seen best in FIGURES 1 and 2 the inlet end portion 16 of the body 12 preferably includes an integrally formed tubular nipple 22 provided with friction increasing corrugations as at 24 upon which is frictionally retained by means of a suitable resilient O-ring 26 a suitable flexible conduit 28 provided with a coupling 30 adapted to be frictionally retained by means of a suitable resilient O- ring 26 a suitable flexible conduit 28 provided with a coupling 30 adapted to be frictionally retained about the discharge portion of a lavatory faucet. Although not shown, it will nevertheless be understood that the hydraulic dental syringe 10 may be operated from other than a faucet and accordingly the flexible conduit 28 and the faucet coupling 30 are merely exemplary.

The discharge end 15 of the body portion 12 is provided with a jet spray flow control means indicated gen-- erally at 32. Toward this end, the end of the discharge end portion 15 is of a convex configuration so as to nest with, or provide a ball-type socket for, a complementary concave tubular nozzle portion 34 having a through passage as indicate at 36 which may be selectively aligned with a discharge aperture 38 provided in the convex end of the discharge end portion 15 as seen best in FIGURE 6. The flow control means 32 further includes a nozzle retaining and movement limiting cap 40 internally threaded as at 42 and threadably engageable upon complementary male threads 44 provided on the exterior of the discharge end portion 15 adjacent to the end thereof. As seen best in FIGURES 3 and 6, the threadably received cap 40 is provided with an elongated slot indicated at 46 in the upper exteriorly convex wall thereof which is sized so as to permit limited oscillatory movement of the nozzle portion 34 therein. As seen best in FIGURES 5 and 6 the cap 40 is adapted to be maintained in a tightened condition relative to the discharge end portion 15 with the upper portion thereof in spaced apart concentric relation to the complementary convex portion of the discharge end portion 15 so as to define a slot 48 therebetween to permit the selective oscillation of the nozzle portion 34 therein.

As seen best in FIGURES 5 and 6 the jet spray flow control means 32 includes a resilient tubular pinch valve member 50 formed of neoprene or the like, for example, and sized so as to be frictionally retained within the bore 36 of the nozzle portion 34. The resilient valve element 50 is provided with an integral annular lip 52 so as to sealingly engage the concave underside of the convex end of the body portion 15. Thus, as seen in FIGURE 5 fluid introduced under pressure into the interior of the body portion 12 is free to pass outwardly through the nozzle or resilient valve guide means portion 34 and its associated appropriate angular jet spray tip 35. However, when lateral pressure is applied to the nozzle portion 34, such as when grasping the device in the hand and moving the nozzle portion 34 by thumb pressure, it will be seen that the bore of the resilient valve element 50 becomes pinched closed, as seen best in FIGURE 6, thus shutting off the fiow of liquid therethrough. The nozzle portion 34 may be retained in the position shown in FIGURE 6 by merely tightening the cap 40 thus substantially precluding the possibility of the pressure of the liquid within the interior of the body 12 from tending to return the nozzle 34 to the position shown in FIGURE 5 as the pressure attempts to distend the resilient nozzle portion 50. The nozzle portion 35 illustrated will be understood to be merely exemplary inasmuch as the specific configuration of the tip is merely a matter of choice.

Although the utilization of the hydraulic dental syringe 10 of the present invention is considered to be readily understood from the foregoing it will be seen that the hydraulic dental syringe 10 of the present invention connected to a lavatory faucet for example may be utilized to cleanse the teeth and gums by merely turning the faucet on and permitting the jet spray emanating from the nozzle tip 35 to dislodge foreign material from about the teeth and gums. When it is desired to interrupt the flow of water from the syringe it is merely necessary to apply lateral pressure to the nozzle portion 34 so as to urge it into the position shown in FIGURE 6 wherein the resilient valve element 50 is pinched closed. Under normal circumstances to resume flow it is merely necessary to remove lateral pressure from the nozzle portion 34 and the hydrostatic pressure will tend to return the nozzle to the flow position shown in FIGURE 5. However, as indicated heretofore the nozzle portion 34 may be releasably retained in the position shown in FIGURE 6 by merely tightening the cap 40.

Referring now to FIGURE 2 and as indicated hereinabove if desired, the segmented body portion 12 of the hydraulic dental syringe 10 may be selectively disconnected so as to permit the introduction of a dentifrice tablet or the like, such as shown in phantom lines, so as to permit gradual dissolving of the tablet so as to produce a beneficial solution as Water flows through the body of the syringe 10.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that there has been provided a hydraulic dental syring of simplified construction which may be fabricated from suitable noncorrosive metal or plastic, for example, and which is relatively simple to manipulate and thus highly satisfactory for the task at hand.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A hydraulic dental syringe comprising an elongated tubular main body portion adatped to be grasped within the hand, said body portion having first and second ends, said first end being adapted to be connected to a suitable source of liquid under pressure, said second end of said body portion being generally convex and provided with a flow control means adapted to permit selective discharge of water from said second end of said body portion, a nozzle operatively carried by said flow control means whereby said nozzle may be manipulated to selectively control the discharge of a jet of liquid from said body portion, means for selectively limiting the movement of said nozzle, said limiting means including a generally convex cap threadably received in telescopic relation to said second end of said body portion whereby said nozzle is retained between said cap and said second end of said body portion in laterally shiftable flow controlling relation to said body portion, said cap being provided with an elongated aperture, said elongated aperture limiting the movement of said nozzle.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tubular main body portion comprises first and second sealingly secured portions adapted to be releasably secured so as to permit introduction of a relatively soluble cleaning agent into the tubular main body portion.

3. A hydraulic dental syringe comprising an elongated tubular main body portion adapted to be grasped within the hand, said body portion having first and second ends, said first end being adapted to be connected to a suitable source of liquid under pressure, said second end of said body portion being provided with a flow control means adapted to permit selective discharge of water from said second end of said body portion and nozzle means operatively carried by said fiow control means whereby said nozzle may be manipulated to selectively control the discharge of a jet of liquid from said body portion, said second end of said second body portion being of a generally convex configuration, said convex end of said body portion being provided with an aperture, a generally elongated outwardly projecting resilient valve element projecting outwardly through said aperture in said convex end, a nozzle portion of generally complementary cross-sectional configuration to said resilient valve element telescopically received thereabout, said nozzle portion having one end contiguous with and of generally complementary configuration to said convex end whereby said nozzle portion may be oscillated to pinch said resilient valve element closed, means for selectively limiting the movement of said nozzle portion, said limiting means including a generally convex cap adapted to be threadably received in telescopic relation to said generally convex end of said body portion, said cap being provided with an elongated aperture, said elongated aperture being adapted to receive and selectively limit the movement of said nozzle portion.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said nozzle portion is provided with a restricted orifice so as to facilitate discharge of relatively high pressure jet of liquid from said dental syringe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,002,835 5/1935 Rose 2514 2,208,031 7/1940 Hooper 128-229 2,279,834 4/1942 McGee 128229 FOREIGN PATENTS 543,325 2/1932 Germany.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

MARTIN F. MAJESTIC, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

